Antinoise structure



Sept. 22,v 1936. v A.l w. KIMBl-:LL I 2,055,444

ANTINOISE STRUCTURE Filed March 28, 1954 Patented Sept. 22, 1936 PATENT FFIC AN TINOISE STRUCTURE Arthur W. Kimbell, Newton Center, Mass., as-

signor to United-Carr Fastener Corporation, Cambridge, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application March 28, 1934, Serial No. 717,827

2 Claims.

My invention aims to provide improvements in cushions and similar structures.

In the drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment of my invention:

Figure 1 is a section through a portion of a seat cushion structure showing my invention;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken on the line 10 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the tie clip; Fig. 5 is a simple longitudinal sectional view of the clip shown in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is an end view of the tie clip. l5 Referring to the particular embodiment of my invention selected for illustration thereof, I have shown a part of a seat cushion structure now commonly used in motor vehicles. In structures of this type, it is now usual practice to connect 20 the tufting buttons, clips or the like to wires within the structure by straps, strings, wires and the like. It has been found that any use of metal parts in the ties which hold the tufting buttons is undesirable because of noises caused by strik- 25 ing against springs and other metal parts, especially when the seat is compressed and the ties loosened.

In order that my invention may be best understood by those skilled in the art, I have shown'in 30 Figure 1 a portion, of an upholstery assembly comprising the upholstery padding 2 covered on the top and bottom by the material 3, the cushioning material 2a lying under the padding 2, and the top and bottom frame members 4a within 35 which are mounted coil springs I, which yield under pressure exerted upon the upholstery padding 2, the lcushioning material 2a and covering 3. Tufting devices, such as the concealed clip 3a are connected to a longitudinal wire 4 by straps or ties 5, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2. 'I'hus tufting is effected by the use of clips 3a and ties 5. The tie 5 is made of strong cord, leather or the like non-metallic material and the ends are secured together by a metal clip 6. They clip 6 is formed from sheet mtal and is preferably U- shaped in cross-section before attachment, as shown by Figs. 4 and 6. Prongs l (Figs. 4 and 5) are formed from the bottom 8 of the clip 6, and 50 teeth 9 are provided at the free edges of the sides. These prongs l and teeth 9 grip the ends of the tie 5 (Fig. 3) when the clip is crimped into engagement with the ends of the tie, thereby securely holding the ends of the tie, as shown in 55 Fig. 2. As illustrated in Fig. 4 the clip may be f formed with a longitudinal channel in the bottom 8 but this is not essential to the invention herein claimed.

Since the springs l are of metal and relatively close together, the tie joining clips will strike against them at times, especially when the cushion is compressed as by the weight of a person. This compression loosens the ties and permits the clips 6 to strike the springs, thereby causing objectionable noise by metal to metal contact. To 10 overcome this, I propose to cover the exposed surfaces of the clips with a non-metallic substance, adhesively applied to the clips. As a simple and commercial manner of covering these clips, I have covered the outer surfaces of the clips with a so-called ock l Il sprayed on after first having sprayed on a coat of suitable adhesive. This flock I0, which is fine particles of cotton or other suitable material capable of being applied by spraying or shaking it over the adhesively coated surface of the clip, is shown in this drawing by stippling marks applied to Figs. 1, 2 and 4.

My invention, while being relatively simple, is nevertheless an important advance in the art because it produces the desired result in a simple, eicient and inexpensive manner. It has been put into commercial use by automobile manufacturers and is being embodied in present-day motor vehicle seat cushion structures as a practical device which has overcome an objectionable fault heretofore mentioned.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to be limited thereby, because the scope of my invention is best defined by the following claims.

1. A cushion or like structure including top and bottom frame members, a plurality of metallic springs between said frame members, an upholstery assembly superposed upon the top one of said frame members, tufting members attached to the upholstery and connected by suitable nonmetallic ties to the bottom frame member, said ties having ends intermediate the ends of adjacent springs and connected by metallic clips, and said clips having a covering of soft, non-metallic particles of material to prevent noise when said clips contact said springs.

2. A noiseless tufting for spring cushioned upholstery or the like including spaced frame members, a plurality of metallic compression springs between said frame members, a cushion member supported by one of said frame members, said tufting comprising a flexible non-metallic tie attached to the cushion and the other of the frame members for normally holding said springs under a certain degree of tension, said tie having ends intermediate the ends of adjacent springs and connected by a metallic fastener member, said fastener member having a non-metallic,

noise-preventing outer covering whereby noise and rattle between the spring members and fastener are eliminated when the springs are under such compression as to produce slack in the tufting tie.

ARTHUR W. KIMBELL. 

